The John C. Culver Public Policy Center

Each year, a select group of new, incoming full-time first-year students with a passion for politics and public service will be awarded a renewable annual scholarship of up to $2,500 — in addition to all other merit- and need-based financial aid awarded by Simpson College.

Public service may include contributions made within the context of volunteer work, elected office, government service and civic engagement. In addition to the scholarship, Culver Fellows are the student leaders of the John C. Culver Public Policy Center who are involved in all aspects of the center’s work on campus and in the broader community.

Priority consideration will be given to candidates for this scholarship who submit the Simpson College application for admission and supporting materials by February 15, 2024. Click here to apply.

For more information on the John C. Culver Fellows program contact:
Simpson College Office of Admissions: 800-362-2454 or admiss@simpson.edu.

Seth Andersen, Director, Culver Public Policy Center: 515-961-1354 or seth.andersen@simpson.edu.

Mike Murphy delivered the 12^th Annual Culver Lecture on April 11 in Hubbell Hall – Kent Campus Center. Murphy is one of the Republican Party’s most successful political media consultants, having handled strategy and advertising for more than 26 successful gubernatorial and Senatorial campaigns, including 12 wins in “blue” states that have consistently voted Democratic in Presidential elections. He served as a top campaign advisor to John McCain, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with dozens of other GOP Senators, Governors and Members of Congress. Murphy currently serves as co-director the University of Southern California’s Center for the Political Future and co-hosts the popular podcast Hacks on Tap with Democratic political consultant David Axelrod, who delivered the 5^th Annual Culver Lecture at Simpson College in 2015.

Simpson College has earned designation as a Voter-Friendly Campus, one of 258 campuses in 38 states and the District of Columbia by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices that encourage their students to register and vote in the 2022 elections and in coming years.

Read the full announcement.

Becoming a Culver Fellow comes with many experiences and opportunities for involvement including:

• Internships in politics, government, and public policy.
• Meeting presidential candidates and organizing for the Iowa Caucuses.
• Leading nonpartisan voter registration drives on campus in conjunction with the Andrew Goodman Foundation Vote Everywhere program.
• Hosting nationally-recognized speakers for the annual Culver Lecture and other major programs.
• Traveling to Washington, D.C. for the Capitol Hill Internship Program (CHIP) and May Term immersion courses in politics and government.
• Representing Simpson College at conferences hosted by the National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement at the Harvard Institute of Politics.
• Leading and serving on Culver Center committees:
  • Communications
  • Political Events
  • Programs
  • Voter Engagement

Student voting rose above 75% in 2020 presidential election

Simpson College announced today that student voting on its campus set new institutional records in last year’s presidential election, rising to 75.3% in 2020 from 60.6% in 2016.

Simpson College has been recognized as a Gold Campus by ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for excellence in student voter engagement during the 2020 presidential election. Simpson posted a voter rate of 75.3% in 2020, a 14.7% increase from 2016.

A video of the Tribute to Senator Culver is available to view on the Culver Center Facebook page.

A memorial fund has been established through the John C. Culver Public Policy Center at Simpson College. To make a gift, visit the Culver Center donation page. 
Mail checks to: Culver Public Policy Center, Simpson College, 701 North C Street, Indianola, IA 50125. 
Please call 515-961-1683 with any questions about donations to the Culver Center.